LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS? Discover the Real World
Religions

Buddhism_________________________________

Buddhist Temples and Spires in Bangkok Thailand

Please enjoy another excerpt from Love Your Neighbors?
Discover the real world religions. Within my book I rely on personal
experiences (even some journal entries) and academic research. Overall, my
insight and perceptions are spiritually based. The following
chart and writings are from pages 66-67.

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This Wheel of Life represents all of existence. The center axis
represents Buddha consciousness, the transcendent fullness of wisdom and
compassion. As the wheel turns within the jaws of death, life becomes
experiences within each of the dimensions, churned by greed, hatred and
ignorance.

As Buddha’s visionary experience provided a foundation for his
awakening, I will interpret and expand upon details of this journey. Since the
experience encompasses dimensions related to all existence, mystics throughout
the world have somehow connected to these realms. (Aspects of spiritual
experiences are often interpreted from personal perceptions within a cultural
and religious context.) ...

Within the completeness of perfection, Gotama
saw the beauty of everything within life. The simplest rocks appeared like the
most valuable metals or jewels. Water seemed to flow through everything,
connecting a source of light within all forms. Plants, animals, and humans
interacted with joyous harmony. How could he possibly describe this fullness of
bliss? Waves of love washed within each breath. The essence of God was
everywhere. Completely liberated by the splendor of existence, this had to be
the awakening he sought. Then, as soon as he thought of God and stared directly
into the eyes of who he knew as Brahma the creator, Gotama was in essence
whizzed beyond time. As if swallowing and being stuck between a burden and its
release, Gotama examined his surroundings.

Transcending time itself left
an eternity of greater glory beyond, yet prominent detractions pulled within the
expansion of glory. The detractions felt like shooting stars falling from
heaven. Gotama followed these hordes of power. For a flash, complete darkness
overwhelmed, capturing, then smothering all hope for release. Then he found
himself within a realm full of separate spheres of varying size and power.
Together, the mass of these spheres represented a continual struggle to overtake
heaven. Weapons of all imaginative forms were created for a continuous war.
Although underlying prosperity could theoretically persist, ingrained revenge
made efforts desperate. Seeking clearer perspective, Gotama pierced one of the
lost spheres and discovered a fabricated world. The god or wielder of power
within this particular world appeared to access unlimited fantasies and control
a splendid kingdom. Yet upon closer inspection were signs of growing
dissatisfaction. Greed represented the cure. Sucking power from one another
alleviated the discontent. All forms of rape occurred, whether against people or
the land. Conspiracies to overthrow leaders proliferated. Every leader and
established law was temporary. Being caught in these webs transported Gotama
into an entirely new realm.

No being ever found fulfillment within
hallmarks of hunger and desperation. Instead, ghosts overtook this realm. Each
one was burdened with red-hot embers of desire that drove the mind completely
mad. A dire paleness surrounded shells of human beings that were devoid of love
and compassion. Solely seeking personal satisfaction promoted acts of extreme
cruelty in a constant effort to try and quench burning lust. Yet these flames
were never extinguished, even when the motives and subsequent actions were
murderous. In witnessing one violent rage Gotama entered into one of these empty
shells during the act of murder. The intensity of hatred dropped him into a
connected realm where darkness and anguish became profoundly real. ...

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[This exciting story continues with graphic descriptions of the
Hell, Animal and Human Realms, which are tied to traditions of the Buddha. In
Neighbors you will discover the various types of Buddhism practiced
throughout the world. I share experiences of when I stayed at a Mahayana
Buddhist monastery in Thailand, photos and stories from where the Dalai Lama
resides in India, along with selections from various Buddhist scripture. Learn
about spiritual weapons, the 1000 Buddhas, and Buddhist scripture about what life will be like when the
future Buddha Maitreya arrives.]

This Tibetan Buddhist prayer flag is said to represent Maitreya as
the lightened scrolls atop the galloping horse.